Lap-ring or open ring.



J. BLALAGK.

LAP RING 0R OPEN RING.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 20, 1909.

1,012,318. Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Lymaedz' fu/enior WM JAMES BLALACK, 0F QUINCY, ARKANSAS.

LAP-RING OR OPEN RING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 20, 1909.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911. Serial No. 534,236.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES BLALAGK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Newton and the State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Lap-Ring or Open Ring, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a ring or link of that type composed of two hingedlyconnected sections that normally overlap when the ring or link is closed, the same being useful for coupling parts of chains, cables or machinery together, or for use in connecting clevises of agricultural imple' ments with the draft devices.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction of devices of this character so as to be reliable and etlicient in use, easily and quickly opened, and comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is the provision of reversely arranged open link Sections having arms of dissimilar length that overlap, the longer arms of both sections meeting and overlapping at the medial portion of the link, and the sections being connected together by a sleeve, so that by proper manipulation of the link, the sections can be swung open to permit the parts to be coupled or uncoupled.

WVith these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a side view of the ring. Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof. Fig. 3 is a view of the ring open. Fig. 4 is a side view of the ring, showing the position of the section in the first step of opening the ring. Figs. 5 and 6 are sections on lines 55 and 6--6, Figs. 3 and 1, respectively.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawing, a and b designate the two sections of the link or ring, each section being in the form of a link consisting of a bar 1 having its ends curved at 2 and 3 and terminating in arms 4 and 5 of unequal length, said arms extending toward but short of each other so that an opening 6 between the inner ends of the arms of each section will be provided for permitting the links of a chain, clcvises or other devices to be inserted in the coupling device. The two sections are reversely arranged so that thc.long arms 5 will extend toward each other from opposite ends of the coupling, and these ends normally overlap. The overlapping ends of the arms are provided with recesses 7 into which engage shoulders S, Fig. 2, so that relative longitudinal movement of the link sections will be prevented when the link is closed. The short arms also interlock with the long arms by means of shoulders 9 on the short arms engaging in recesses 10 in the long arms, so as to assist in preventing relative longitudinal movement of the sections. The straight bar portions 1 of the links are disposed side by side and in contact, and surrounding these straight portions is a sleeve or cu'tl' 11 which forms a hinged connection between the sections.

In opening the device, the two sections of the links are slightly moved apart by separating the arms 5, and while thus separated, the links are moved relatively to each other in a direction parallel with the plane of the link or coupling so as to place one arm 5 above the other. WVhile in this position, the links can swing outwardly in opposite directions to open position for enabling the coupling to be attached to or detached from any object or objects coupled or to be coupled thereby.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, is:-

1. A coupling link comprising a pair of link sections each having an opening at one side located near one end, said sections being arranged so that the opening of one section and a sleeve surrounding the unbroken sides 1 of the sections for hingedly connecting them together.

3. A coupling link comprising a pair of sections each having an opening at one side hingedly connecting I and prevent to form a long and a short arm, said sections being arranged in such position that the long arm of one section normally closes the opening of the other section, and means :Eor together the sides of the sections opposite from the openings, the said means comprising a sleeve extending longitudinally of the sections and of such length as to engage the ends of the sections relative longitudinal movement.

4. A coupling link comprising a pair of sections each section having an opening at sect-ions each section having an opening at one side to form a long and a short arm, fsald sections bemg arranged in such positlon that the long arm of one section normally closes the opening of the other section, means for hingedly connecting together the sides of the sections opposite from the openings, a shoulder on each long arm interlocking in a recess in the other arm, and a shoulder on each short arm interlocking 1 in the recess in the long arm.

JAMES BLALACK.

Witnesses:

W. B. HARRISON, E. W. HARRISON.

I Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

